Wanda McDaniel, eldest of five siblings, was born in Wayne, Oklahoma to Thomas Tuttle and Ertice Story James and died in Huntsville, Alabama.
Wanda played on the Paoli High School basketball team and met her husband, Albert Joe McDaniel, at the school. Joe and Wanda married December 23, 1950, and were married 65 years until Joe’s death in 2015. Together they raised three sons, traveled extensively with Joe’s work and retired to Paoli, Oklahoma. They later resided for one year in Indiana and for the last 12 years have called Huntsville home.
Wanda was predeceased by her husband, her son, Joel David McDaniel, her brothers, Thomas “Bud” James, Gary James, and Bobby James, who died the morning of April 11. She is survived by her sister, Louise VanLaanen, sons, Michael and his wife, Debbie, Brian and Melony, and Joel David’s wife, Sherrie McDaniel Hruby. Also surviving are 9 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.
The family expresses deep gratitude to her long time Huntsville physicians, Drs. Laney, Clark, and Estopinal for their years of professional and personal care, and the staffs of Huntsville Hospital (6th floor) and HH Inpatient Hospice for their most recent acts of compassion.
Memorial gifts may be made to Huntsville Hospital Foundation or Hospice Family Care, Huntsville, Alabama.
A graveside interment of ashes in Paoli, OK will be at a later date.
